1. In December 1778 Thomas Paine, a partisan in the Deane-Lee controversy, published a series of articles hinting at improprieties on the part of Robert Morris and other men who had business relationships with Silas Deane. In January 1779 Henry Laurens attacked Morris’s handling of the accounts of Congress’s secret committee of commerce and, citing information received from Francis Lewis, alleged fraud in Morris’s management of public tobacco consignments. After a week of charges and countercharges, Congress appointed a committee “to enquire into the facts.” Its report, adopted by Congress 11 Feb., completely vindicated Morris. JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 13: 46–47, 49–50, 79–86, 158–59, 163–76; LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 11: 447–50, 453–55; 12: 75.